Fish Pond Care is an important part of Koi keeping. Stress is an unavoidable part of life for any living creature. It’s simply a reaction to something uncomfortable and new. Fish out in the wild would simply swim away when conditions became unstable for them, but in our care they are not able to swim away when the ammonia levels are too high, these fish are stuck. And being stuck topples their anxiety into stress.

Fish do not like changes in their environment of any kind, including temperature. Any changes add stress to the fish and the larger and faster the changes, the greater the stress. Koi can also become stressed from the temperature change when being transferred to another pond. It is not only the temperature the fish need to be accustomed to but also the pH, hardness and alkalinity of it’s new surroundings.

A huge part of detecting stress is observance. Another big part of Fish pond care is knowing what is normal behavior for your Koi. Fins are often the first body part to deteriorate when fish are stressed or unwell so they can give a good general guide to condition. Examine all fins, especially those underneath the fish, for ragged or uneven edges, tears, splits or bloodshot appearance. Red lines in the Koi fins are a sure sign that your Koi is under stress.
Specific examples of things which can cause stress (stressors) are listed below.

Physical stressors:Temperature: This is one of the most important influences on the immune system of fish. Light
Sounds
Dissolved Gases

8 Typical stress behaviors and indications to watch for:
Jumping
Remaining near the bottom of the pond
Lying partially on its side
Failing to snorkel near the surface during feeding time
Trying to hide under ledges or under the waterfall
Rubbing against items in the pond, as if to scratch
Swimming lethargically or with a tighter, almost jerky rhythm
Staying by itself; not joining with others to feed

You no doubt have invested a lot of time and money in your fish. Keeping them healthy should be a priority. Stillman Landscape Design & Installation can help you with all of your fish and pond needs. Call us today to schedule your Spring pond clean out or to schedule a consultation regarding your pond environment.

Stillman Landscape Design & Installation is pleased to announce that they received a People’s Choice Award at the 2012 Flower & Patio Show for the second year in a row. “I am thrilled,” stated James Stillman, Owner of Stillman Landscape, “It was a lot of work, especially having to set up in the middle of a snow storm.” The display took 4 days and nights to assemble and one day to take down.

The 1000 square foot display consisted of a fountain, waterfall, koi pond, patio with stone carpet, flower beds, and evergreens. Perhaps the biggest draw was a television built into the flower bed which displayed videos of Stillman’s work. “We are pleased with the turn out this year and received a lot of positive feedback,” continued Stillman. “The fact that so many people are looking to schedule appointments is a very good sign.” To view a video of the display, CLICK HERE

Stillman Landscape Design & Installation is celebrating it’s sixth year in business and continues to grow and expand year after year. The owner, James Stillman of Sterling, MA, a graduate of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture explains, “I wouldn’t say that I specialize in any one thing. Instead, our approach is to look at every landscape project as a whole, balancing each element.” He continued, “I love the design aspect of my job and taking a clients concept and making it a reality.”

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